Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Mark Boucher's
participation for the Test series against England is in doubt after he
suffered a "significant injury," to his left eye during the tour match
against Somerset. Boucher had to leave the field at the end of the 46th
over when a googly from Imran Tahir hit the stumps and a dislodged bail
struck Boucher in the left eye. Photographs showed Boucher bleeding from
the eye as he left the field.

He will undergo surgery on Monday night to determine the seriousness of
the injury - which was diagnosed as laceration of the sclera, the white
part of the eye - but it looms as a potential career-ender as Boucher
said the tour of England would be his last.

"I don't think he will be ready for the first Test and I don't know
about the series," Moosajee said. "I would rather like to see the
outcome of the surgery first before saying anything further. At the
moment, the concern is more Mark Boucher the patient, rather than
whether he is going to partake in this tour."

Moosajee said Boucher was in his usual "fighting spirits," but in a lot
of pain. "When he got hit it caused dizziness out there and he had to
helped off. They have also given him something to control the pain
before he has the surgery."

However, South Africa appeared resigned to being without Boucher, who
had been set to reach 150 Tests at Lord's, after bowling coach Allan
Donald said they were "gutted," by the news. "I've never seen Mark
Boucher as fit, as motivated or as determined for one series," Donald
said. "This is his last series and he wants to go out on a high with the
150th Test. The way he led in Switzerland was magnificent. His
leadership and what he has in team meetings is something else. I'm sure
Mark would want us to refocus but this is a massive loss for us."

Donald named AB de Villiers as "a more than accomplished keeper," who
could do a stand-in job, as he did in this match, but it is expected
that South Africa will call up a replacement wicket-keeper if needed.
Thami Tsolekile, who was nationally contracted from April 1, is the
likeliest candidate.

Tsolekile recently played for the South Africa A side in the two
unofficial Tests against Sri Lanka A and has also been named in the
squad to travel to Ireland to shadow the senior side from the third
Test.

Tsolekile last played for South Africa in 2004 when he represented the
country in three Tests including one against England at Port Elizabeth.
Since then, he has changed franchises, from the Cape Town based Cobras
to the Johannesburg team, Lions, where he has spent the last three
seasons. Tsolekile was earmarked as the successor to Boucher, who
indicated he would retire after the England series, when he was awarded a
central contract and was chosen to play for the A side.

He equalled the South African record for the most catches in a
first-class innings when he claimed eight in the first innings of the
match against Sri Lanka A, which ended in a draw on Monday.